-
Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, computer and other devices when you’re not using them. -
Turn off the computer when possible
Dont get me wrong, there is no need to turn the computer off every time you go to the bathroom. If you know that you will be away for four hours or more, however, turning it off could result in significant savings over the long run. -
Print only when necessary
Sure, reading on paper might be more comfortable, but you should avoid printing those two-lines emails every single time. Read it on the screen and print only necessary documents. Remember also to use both sides of the sheet. -
Use LEDs
Incandescent light bulbs use five times more energy than fluorescent ones and last ten times less. The fluorescent lamps cost more on the stores, but within one you should have already recovered the investment. -
Use cold water as much as possible
In Indonesia, we prefer to use air-conditioners to cool our homes and offices but use hot water for showers and dish washing – strange. Use cold water as much as possible, insulate your hot water heater and unplug appliances when they’re not in use. -
Reduce Water Consumption
To reduce your water consumption, keep faucets on low pressure with cold water as much as possible, turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth or shave, and run full loads of dishes and laundry on a short cycle with low water levels. -
Go digital
Cancel your paper newspaper and magazine subscription and go online for the digital editions. Use your iPod for news, music and video downloads. -
Think eco-friendly
There are many other environmentally friendly tips you can incorporate into your lifestyle as well. For example, choose non-toxic, environmentally friendly household products as much possible, try eating and gardening organically, use natural body products, pick up trash outside as you’re walking and give creative, eco-friendly gifts that don’t come in wrapping or packages. -
Reuse everything
Change your mind-set and think twice before throwing anything out. Resealable plastic bags that held carrots today can hold crayons tomorrow. Mom might just like that cashmere sweater you’re sick of wearing. And Fido doesn’t know the difference between a new chew toy and the one you make yourself out of old dish towels. Donate your old cell phones – One person’s trash can be another persons treasure, learn more at www.freecycle.org -
Drive Less and Drive Smart
Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school. Pausing somewhere? Shut down your engine: Idling for any length of time burns more gas than it takes to restart the car. Speeding, fast accelerations, and hard braking waste gas. Maintaining your car saves it. Tune up your car according to your owner s-manual schedule (usually every 30,000 miles) and raise your cars fuel efficiency anywhere from 4 to 40 percent. -
Bring your own bags to the market
Avoid taking plastic bags for purchases from the supermarkets and while shopping. Reduce plastic garbage. Stash some canvas bags in your car. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can’t be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. -
Plant a Tree
If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
